Citizens Advice has responded to yesterday’s announcement by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) of a consultation on data sharing between energy companies and the Department for Work and Pensions to better identify energy customers who should be covered by the Ofgem’s safeguard tariff.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive at Citizens Advice, said:

“Identifying vulnerable energy customers not currently covered by the safeguard tariff is essential to better protect people from sky high bills. This consultation takes us closer to ensuring that millions more vulnerable energy customers get the protections that are so sorely needed.  

“These proposed data matching powers must be brought into force as soon as possible to ensure lasting protection for this wider group of vulnerable customers as any delay leaves them exposed to unjustifiably high energy costs.

“To make this scheme work it is essential that there are robust protections of people’s information and that companies are clear with consumers about how it is being used.”

New proposals to help vulnerable people benefit from cheaper energy

Notes to editors

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers.
5. Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication Advice trends.
6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.